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Around Hear Page 2
Even after listening to all 10 tracks on Kindasorta, it’s hard to figure out just who in the hell Matt Mercado (ex-Mindbomb and Supermercado) is these days. Maybe he has no clue himself. The disc opens with the acoustic pop tune “I Found It,” which sounds like it was pulled right from a recent Bon […]
Mmm . . . Fu Manchu
Metal Haven is undoubtedly the most metal establishment in Chicagoland. They’re just missing one thing: Really fucking good burgers. Burgers like the Black Sabbath (blackening spice, chili, pepper jack, and red onion), the Iron Maiden (smoked gouda, bacon, roasted red peppers, and roasted garlic mayo), the High On Fire (Sriracha hot chili sauce, prosciutto, roasted […]
Despite All His Rage
Fender Guitars Billy Corgan Stratocaster Fender‘s new Billy Corgan Stratocaster was co-designed by the company and Corgan to accommodate the head Pumpkin’s need for a versatile Strat. “My greatest go-to guitar got stolen at a Pumpkins club date in 1991 or something like that [Club Avalon on Belmont?], and I’ve never seen it since,” Corgan […]
College Stations: Terrastrial Radio’s Last Frontier
Down at the left end of the dial, sprinkled among the non-commercial religious and public-radio stations, is where you’ll find the most subversive sounds on the radio. That’s the domain of college radio – where students and community DJs often play (and say) anything, and with its focus on the local and offbeat, college radio […]
Chicagoland Studio Happenings
At BOTA STUDIOS in Lake In The Hills, old-school thrashers Vicious worked on a full-length due out this month. BOTA also recently joined forced with Recording Artists Workshop (RAW) and have a new Web site at www.botastudio.com. At PARAGON RECORDING STUDIO in Chicago, local modern rock act 72 Hours tracked and mixed their next LP […]
A Skin Deep Preview
By the time you read this, Chicago’s premier axe man, Buddy Guy, will have received the first annual Great Performer Of Illinois Award on July 20th at Millennium Park. He will have hosted a record-release party at Legends on the same night, and, two days later, will have officially released his new album, Skin Deep […]
Hello, My Name Is Nash
Hello My Name Is Nash Q&A with Nash Kato of Urge Overkill IE: Is this a show for Bottom Lounge instead of Urge Overkill? Nash Kato: Well, we just did an East Coast leg and we were gonna bury the tour in Chicago because our pal’s opening a new venue. We’ve played every shithole in […]
File: July 2008
Together Again The spark is back for Hawthorne Heights and Victory Records. Though the Ohio band and their Chicago label have an incredibly successful track record together — 2004’s The Silence In Black & White went platinum, and 2006’s If Only You Were Lonely reached gold — the last few years have been messy.
DVD Zone: July 2008
Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten Sony After the demise of The Clash, Joe Strummer wandered. His musical inspirations stagnate, he relegated himself to film scores and the odd acting gig with a side project or two here and there. Eventually, he would hold a series of “bonfire discussions” originating at the Glastonbury Music Festival. […]
Perpetratin’ The Blues
The Byther Smith, Blues On The Moon: Live At Natural Rhythm Social Club (Delmark) DVD/CD is a false document – fiction, cooked up by writer David Whiteis and the Delmark Records folks desperate to return the “negro” to his natural habitat.
Hope For Local TV
The station that launched the legendary dance show “Soul Train” in 1970 recently hired two WTTW-Channel 11 alumni to help develop local programming. Weigel Broadcasting, which owns WCIU-Channel 26 (where “Soul Train” got its start back in 1970), as well as WWME-Channel 23 and WMEU-Channel 48, recently hired Harvey Moshman and Randy King to create […]
Martin’s Guitar Town
MARTIN M-21 Steve Earle Custom Steve Earle and Martin Guitar did something unique for the guitar biz: They created a “special edition” guitar without the customary big price tag that goes along with a collectable axe.
To Thrash Or Not To Thrash?
Look no further than our own city and sprawling suburbs for proof of just how extensive this whole thrash revival thing is. Do a quick Myspace, “Illinois metal” search, and you’ll find a list of Chicagoland bands like Degradation, Infinite Missiles, Air Raid, Vicious Attack, Diamond Plate, Sulfox, and Slayasylum. They vary in quality, of […]
Local CD Reviews
“Around Hear” is a monthly feature where a stable of IE writers review albums sent to us by local musicians. If you are interested in having your CD (must have a minimum of three songs) reviewed and are Illinois-based, mail it and any other media materials to 657 A W. Lake St., Chicago IL, 60661. […]
Around Hear Page 2
Textbook‘s Boxing Day Massacre is certainly a catchy album and has plenty of pop hooks to spare. Unfortunately, it’s also bland. While there’s no doubting the sincerity, Textbook come off as very Gin Blossoms-ish or, more generously, The Archies, but without the nostalgic charm. “The Weight Of Everything” is when this really becomes apparent and […]
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